Which statement describes the Cori cycle in terms of lactate and glucose?

• A. Brain converts glucose to lactate
• B. Muscle converts lactate to glucose
• C. Liver converts lactate to glucose
• D. Pancreas converts lactate to lactate

Answer: (C)

The Cori cycle describes how lactate produced by anaerobic metabolism in muscle is transported to the liver, where it is converted back into glucose through gluconeogenesis. This hepatic conversion allows glucose to be released into the bloodstream to fuel muscles and other tissues, helping to recycle lactate and maintain blood sugar during intense exercise. That’s why the statement that the liver converts lactate to glucose is the best description. The brain primarily uses glucose and doesn’t perform this lactate-to-glucose conversion in the cycle, and the pancreas isn’t involved in this lactate-to-glucose recycling.